Back band



M 1947. E. s. JEFFERSON 9 3 BACK BAND Filed Jul s, 1946 filo INWNTOR. fiezvzsr filJer/ ekso/v ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE BACK BAND Ernest Selma Jefferson, Belhaven, N. 0. Application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,349

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a harness, and more especially to a draft animal back band in the harnessing of such animal.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character, wherein the traces for the draft of a load are detachably held in place by the back band in a novel and unique manner, so that such traces will not become free during the draft of the said load and while in active duty.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character, wherein the traces or harness are held removed from contact with the body of the animal so as to avoid injury through frictional contact therewith, the traces being coupled with the back band with ease and dispatch, and in a simplified manner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character, wherein the bearings for the back band are employed for the latching of the traces to the latter, and such traces can be detached at will to enable unharnessing of a draft animal with ease and dispatch, and also without undue labor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efilcient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily operated, eliminating injury to an animal, safe and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of one of the bearin blocks;

Figure 4 is the same with relation to each other;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of another bearing block and Figure 6 is the same with the parts in adjusted relation to each other.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral l0, designates generally the the parts in adjusted back band constructed in accordance with the invention which comprises a back saddling strap l4 formed from metal or any othersuitable material having strength and rigidity of substantially V-shape in order to straddle the back of a draft animal.

The strap l4 has downwardly and inwardly turned hook ends l6 which are at opposite extremities thereof, and next to these ends I6 are arranged slidable bearing blocks I8, the strap l 0 being attached to the upper faces of the latter by a metal strap 20 which is secured to the blocks by screw nails 22, and the blocks being slidable, can be engaged over or disengaged from the bills 24 of the ends [6, which are accommodated in sockets 26 therefor provided in the blocks as best seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.

Surrounding the strap I4 is a coil spring 29 that at each end thereof engages angularly bent washers 30 which in turn engage the blocks [8 to retain the bills in their respective sockets except during forced movement thereof during the saddling of the draft animal. The hook ends l6 detachably receive the selected upper links 32 of a flexible chain 34 arranged at each side of the draft animal. The chain 34 suspend additional bearing blocks 36, each being slidably fitted to a hanger hook 38, having its frame provided with opposed or double bills 40 and 42 respectively. The bill 40 is slidably fitted in a socket 44 provided in one end of the block 36 while the bill 42 is releasably engageable in a socket 46 in the opposite end of the block 36 so that the hook having the bill 40 can be opened and closed, it being at the lowermost end of each' block 36 and detachably engaged with the trace, not shown, of the harness for draft purposes. A coil spring 48 is positioned in the socket 46 to engage the bill 42 of the hook, and thus retain the bill 40 in its respective socket until forced therefrom during the harnessing of the draft animal, The hooks 38 are connected to the block 36 b metal straps 50 which are secured to the blocks by screw nails 52 The hook bill 42 is selectively engaged in the links 32 of the chain 34 to vary the length thereof, and these hooks on all blocks are arranged so as not to injure the animal by contact therewith.

The back band i0 is of course preferably used with a saddle pad of any well known construction, and not herein shown, as it forms no part or the present invention.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, provided such changes fall within the spirit of the invention, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of prising a back strap formed the character described, comfrom rigid material,

and having hook ends provided with bills, bearing blocks slidably fitted to the strap next to the bills and cooperating therewith for the opening and closing of these hooks, and means for retaining said hooks in closed relation with said blocks.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein suspension chains are detachably latched in the hooks by the blocks engaging the bills thereof, and the means for retaining said hooks in their respective blocks comprise a coil spring on said back strap and coil springs in the blocks latched to said chains at the lower ends thereof.

ERNEST SELMA JEFFERSON. 

